MONROVIA, Montserrado – President George Weah has appointed a committee to receive submissions and vet applications for this year’s Independence Day orator. The aim is to discover a talent that is not already universally recognized, unlike with past Independence Day celebrations.

The committee is headed by Monrovia’s Mayor Jefferson Koijee and Assistant Minister Maminah Carr of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.

Carr said this year’s Independence Day orator will be selected by the public and vetted by independent and credible judges. She said applicants should be between the ages of 15-35.

“Normally, past presidents will designate someone to serve as orator to deliver the oration, but this year, our president has said no,” she said.

“[The president said,] ‘I had a skill. I used to play football, but I was way down in the community and nobody could identify me, but I was there as a star – gold and diamond – but nobody knew me. I feel just designating people who everybody knows their names and are opportune and already up there is not enough. Liberians are brilliant and talented there will be a new voice.’”

Nominations have begun and will last until July 13. Carr said those who want to nominate themselves or someone else should visit the offices of either the Ministry of Gender or the Monrovia City Corporation.

After nomination closes, she said there will be vetting done by credible panel members to select the five most qualified persons, who will audition before the judges. After the vetting, the public will be able to choose from the five options for an orator through an online voting process.

For his part, Koijee said it is time for a paradigm shift in selecting orators for the Independence Day commemoration. He noted that members of the ruling party, the Coalition for Democratic Change, also referred to as CDCians, would not be left out.

“If a CDCian is vetted and qualified to be the orator, we will give it to the person. We have talented and brilliant people, so we are also encouraging them to apply. They are Liberians and must benefit from the process,” Koijee told reporters.

Past Independence Day orators have included Elwood Dunn, the celebrated historian; Varney Sherman, senator and founder of one of Liberia’s top law firms; and Dougbeh Chris Nyan, a medical doctor and innovative research scientist.

Featured photo by Erik Cleves Kristensen